Thursday, June 12, 2008

Exotica - Harry Partch

"The early works of composer, instrument inventor and theorist Harry Partch (...) have been described by Danlee Mitchell as 'masterpieces of Americana, employing the language in a natural style uninfluenced by European traditions' (sleeve notes to The World of Harry Partch). Through Partch's search for integrated theatre, this Americana was enriched by more remote sources. 'The work that I have been doing these many years,' stated Partch, 'parallels much in the attitudes and actions of primitive man. He found sound-magic in the common materials around him. He then proceeded to make the vehicle, the instrument, as visually beautiful as he could. Finally, he involved the sound-magic and the visual beauty in his everyday words and experiences, his ritual and drama, in order to lend a greater meaning to his life. This is my trinity: sound-magic, visual beauty, experience-ritual."